Heat is the king of all remedies for the relief of pain. It is a natural antidote, and may be applied to any part of the body by means of hot-water bags. If these are not at hand, a cloth bag may be made and filled with salt, ashes, sand, corn-meal, or any other substance that will retain heat. Whichever substance is used for filling should be well heated in the oven, then placed in the bag and applied to the seat of pain. The bags should be only about half filled. Two bags are better than one, so one can be heating in the oven while the other is being applied.
Glass bottles with good stoppers may be filled with hot water and used in place of rubber bags. Even bricks, flat irons, or logs of wood, heated and wrapped with flannel may be used.
(Signs Of The Time Publishing Home and Health, 1908)